Attachment for the fastening of buttons which can be applied to zig-zag sewing machines



July 23, 1963 L BONO 3,098,459

ATTACHMENT FOR THE FASTENING 0F BUTTONS WHICH CAN BE APPLIED TO ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1960 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ nv nlz Luigi B0710 MMWMA 'hfiy:

3,098,459 BUTTONS WHICH CAN BE MACHIN July 23, 1963 1.. BONO ATTACHMENT FOR THE FASTENING OF APPLIED TO ZIG-ZAG SEWING ES Flled Aug 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIII HUI UABCD F IGJO haj/ United States Patent ATTACHMENT FUR THE FASTENENG 0F BUT- TGNS WHICH CAN BE APPLIED T0 ZIG-ZAG SEWING MAQHINES Luigi Bone, Pavia, Italy, assignor to Necchi Societa per Azioni, Pavia, Italy Filed Aug. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 49,297 Claims priority, application Italy Sept. 24, 1959 3 Claims. (Cl. l12-114) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements for zig-zag type sewing machines, and more particularly relates to an attachment for use with a zigzag sewing machine for the purpose of fastening buttons.

In the attachment of buttons with a sewing machine, it is necessary that the width of the zigzag be made to correlate with the spacing of the holes in a button. Further, when the but-ton is of the four-hole type, it is necessary that the button be supported in a manner so that the sewing may be effected through a first set of holes in the button, after which the button is shifted to align the second set of holes with the needle of the sewing machine for the further sewing of the button in place. It is to this end that the present invention is directed.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel attachment for a zig-zag sewing machine, the attachment being in the form of a support attachable to the usual presser foot of the sewing machine, the support carrying a jaw assembly for holding a button in place I during the sewing thereof in place on fabric, and means carried by the support for adjusting the jaw assembly to align the holes of the button with the needle of the sewing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel attachment for a zig-zag sewing machine, the attachment being in the form of a button holder which is readily securable to the usual presser bar of a sewing machine and which carries a three-jaw jaw assembly which is selfcentering when adjusted so as to automatically hold buttons of various sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel attachment for sewing machines of the zig-zag type, the attachment being for the purpose of fastening buttons utilizing the sewing machine and including a support reremovably secura'ble to the presser bar of the sewing machine, the presser bar carrying a support plate which is adjustable in the direction of teed of cloth with respect to the needle of the sewing machine, and the support plate carrying a jaw assembly for holding a button, there also being provided means for adjusting the limits of movement of the support plate whereby the jaw assembly may either be retained stationary to hold a button of the type having two holes only or for properly aligning the two pairs of holes of buttons of different sizes in accordance with the particular button being held for fastening.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for engagement with a zig-zag type sewing machine for properly holding a button in alignment with the needle of the sewing machine, the button holding means being of a type for readily holding either a two-hole button or a four-hole button, in each instance holding the button in such a manner that when the zig-zag attachment of the sewing machine is properly adjusted, the needle of the sewing machine will pass into and out of each two holes of the button, irrespective of whether the button is of the two-hole or four-hole type, and there further being provided means for easily adjusting the sewing machine so that the width of the zig-zag thereof is in accordance with the spacing of the holes of the but-ton which is being fastened.

398A59 Patented July 23, 193

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Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel three-jaw chuck for holding buttons to be fastened in place utilizing a sewing machine, the three-jaw chuck being of the self-centering type and including a pair of pivotally mounted jaws which are urged together and a sliding jaw which is movable towards and away from the two pivotally mounted jaws and between the two pivotally mounted jaws, there further being provided means on said pivotally mounted jaw and the sliding jaw cooperating to space the pivotally mounted jaws in accordance with the position of the sliding jaw to effect the automatic self-centering of the three jaws.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional zig-zag type sewing machine with the button fastening attachment in place thereon.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the button holding attachment removed from the sewing machine and shows generally the details thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the button holding attachment.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the button holding attachment and shows the specific mounting of the jaws thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the button holding attachment and shows the general arrangement of the jaws for engaging and holding the button.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, and shows the specific manner in which the stop plate is adjustably mounted with respect to the support and support plate for limiting the movement of the support plate relative to the support.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the stop plate and shows the general configuration thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the stop plate and shows the arrangement of the notches formed therein for limiting the movement of the support plate.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of the device for holding the stop plate in an adjusted position.

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the device of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a bottom View of a special cam unit for use in conjunction with a zig-zag type sewing machine of the type having replaceable cams for controlling the rnovment thereof.

FIGURE 12. is an elevational view of the cam unit of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the cam unit of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the button holding device, and shows a button held in place by the jaws thereof.

FIGURE 15 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the adjustment of the support plate 16.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a conventional sewing machine of the zig-zag type. The sewing machine includes an arm 1 and a base 2 in which the usual needle bar 3 is connected in a known manner for regulating the width of the zig-zag, the position of the needle and the feed of the fabric. In the typical sewing machine shown by way of example in FIGURE 1, the width of the zigzag is regulated either by the position of a lever 4 which projects outwardly from the arm 1 or by the position of a cam applied to a rotating shaft 5 disposed in the upper part of the arm I with the cam being engageable with a feeler 6 to effect the desired control.

appease The position of the needle towards the left, the center or the right is controlled either by the position of a lever 7, which lever is disposed adjacent the lever 4, or by the position of a second cam (not shown) applied to the rotating shaft 5 and engageable with the feeler 8, which feeler 8 is so connected to the needle bar 3 to effect the desired positioning thereof in a known manner.

The regulation of the feed of the fabric is effected either by the operation of a stitch-regulator knob 9, carried on the front part of the sewing machine, or by a cam (not shown) also carried by the rotating pin, but engaging the feeler lit. The adjustment of the width of the zigzag, of the position of the needle and the feed of the fabric is achieved by known devices (not shown) which are controlled by the aforementioned levers or cams.

Near the needle bar 3, there is located the usual presser bar 11 to which there is fastened the button holding attachment which is the subject of this invention. The button holding attachment includes a fitting 12- which is removably connected to the presser bar 11 in the usual manner and which has the lower portion thereof connected to a support or body 13 which is arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of the base 2.

As is best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 15, the body 13 has an elongated slot 14 therein. The slot 14 is oriented in the direction of feed of fabric by the sewing machine. Two pins 15 are secured to a support plate 16, which support plate 16 underlies the body 13. The pins 15 are spaced apart and pass up through the slot 14. The support plate 16 i provided with upstanding bent ends 16 which may be grasped for the purpose of shifting the support plate 16 for a reason to be described in detail hereinafter. The pins 15 are provided with heads which protrude above the slot 14 An elastic plate 17 bears against the underside of the heads of the pins 15 and engages the body 13 to retain the support plate 16 in an adjusted position with respect to the body 13.

A pair of pins 18 project down from the underside of the support plate 16. Also, two bent arms 19 extend down from opposite sides of the support plate 16 adjacent the forward end thereof, the arms 19 extending around and under the support plate 16 in parallel relation thereto, as is best shown in FIGURE 5. An elongated plate 20, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 15, underlies the support plate 16 and is held in engagement with the underside thereof for sliding movement by the pins 18 and bent arms 19. It is to be noted that the movement of the plate 29 is limited to a sliding movement in the direction of fabric feed of the sewing machine.

The forward end of the plate 2.0 terminates in a projecting central jaw 21. The opposite end of the plate 20 terminates in an upstanding flange 22 which may be grasped for the purpose of shifting the jaw 21 to effect the release or positioning of a button.

A pair of symmetrical levers 23 are pivotally mounted on the pins 13 and project beyond the support plate 16, the levers 23 terminating in a pair of jaws 24 which generally oppose each other and the central jaw 21. The three jaws are disposed equally distant about a center.

The three jaws 21, 24, 24 are normally urged to a closed position by a spring 25, which spring 25 has a central portion thereof passing through the pins 18. The ends of the spring 25 are connected to the levers 23 and normally urge the levers 23 together so as to also urge the jaws 24 together.

The levers 23 are provided with opposed cam surfaces 26. The cam surfaces 26 are engaged by pins 27 depending from the underside of the plate 20 adjacent the central jaw 21. When the plate 20 is slid in the direction of the arrow x in FIGURES 2, 4 and 15, the pins 27 engage the cam surfaces 26 and urge the levers 23 apart, together with the associated separation of the jaws 24. The movement of the jaws 24 with respect to the original centers of the jaws is identical with the movement of the central jaw 21 away from the center of the jaws. As a result,

the jaws 21, 24, 24 are always centered irrespective of their positions. When the plate 24) is released, the spring 2-5, through its urging of the levers 23 together, will also slide the plate 20 so as to move the jaw 21 towards the center of the jaws. The self-centering of the jaws 21, 24, 2d, of course, depends upon the shape of the cam surfaces 26.

In order that 'a button held by the jaw assembly formed by the jaws 21, 24, 24 may be properly positioned with respect to the needle carried by the needle bar 3, there are provided means for adjusting the position of the support plate 16 with respect to the body 13. This means includes a stop plate 28 which is mounted for sliding movement relative to the body 13 in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the support plate 16. The body 13 is provided with upstanding guides 29 along the opposite sides thereof between which the stop plate 28 is guided for movement. As is best shown in FIGURES 8 and 15, the stop plate 28 is provided with oppositely directed notched cammed surfaces 30. These surfaces are selectively aligned with the pins 15 and function as stops for the pins 15 to limit the shifting of the support plate 16 relative to the body 13. The various portions of the notched or carnmed surfaces 30 are identified by the letter O and the letters A to D. The distance between the cam surfaces 30 aligned with the letter (3 is equal to the spacing of the opposed surfaces of the pins 15 so as to prevent shifting of the support plate 16 with respect to the body 13. The spacing of opposed portions of the cam surfaces 30 decreases with the minimum spacing being aligned with the area designated by the letter D. When the pins 15 are aligned with the last-mentioned areas of the cam surfaces 39, a maximum shifting of the support 16 is permitted.

In order to facilitate the shifting of the stop plate 23, the opposite ends thereof are provided with upstanding flanges 31 in the form of bent ends. The underside of the stop plate 23 is provided with a number of grooves 32 which extend generally in the direction of the slot 14. The spacing and position of the grooves 32 correspond to the designated portions of the cam or notched surfaces 39. The stop plate 28 is retained in an adjusted position by a teeth 33 projecting upwardly from a spring or elastic plate 34 which underlies the stop plate 28 and is seated in the support plate 16.

The support plate 16 is provided with a plurality of pairs of pins 35, each of the pairs of pins eing designated by a letter corresponding to one of the letters A to D. The spacing of the pins 35 in each pair varies in accordance with the known spacing of buttons. Further, the spacing of the pins of each pair of pins corresponds to the amount of movement of the support plate '16 permitted by the designated portion of the cam surfaces of the stop plate 28. Thus, it is merely necessary to place a button to be fastened on the various pairs of pins 35 to determine the spacing of the holes in the button, and then to set the stop plate 28 in accordance with the letter of designation of the pair of pins. The movement of the support plate 16 and the two positions of the jaw assembly then correspond to the spacing of the holes in the buttons.

It is to be understood that the pairs of pins 35, in lieu of being carried by the support plate 16, may otherwise be mounted either on other parts of the sewing machine, or on a separate gauge device.

The present invention also includes a cam unit 36 which includes an upper part in the form of a handle 37 having a central hole 33 for receiving the rotating shaft 5. As is best illustrated in FIGURE 13, the upper surface of the handle 37 is provided with suitable indicia which include lines 49 cut therein. Adjacent each of the lines 49 is a letter, from the letters A to D. The upper surface of the arm 1 is provided with a reference line 39 with which one of the lines 4t) may be aligned to properly orientate the cam unit 36.

The lower portion of the cam unit 36 includes a central cam 41, an upper cam 42 and a lower cam 43. The cams 41, 42 and 43 engage the feelers 6, 8 and 10, respectively. The earns 42 and 4'3 are configurated to position the needle so that it always enters into the left hand hole of the button to be sewn and the fabric feed is Zero. On the other hand, the cam 41 is of a configuration to provide for different widths of zig-zag for the various positions of the cam unit 36. The various portions of the cam 41 are identified by the letters a to d. The various portions of the cam 42 which bring about the proper positioning of the needle so as to enter into the left hand hole of the button of the particular size of button are referred to by the letters a' to d'.

It is also to be understood that in lieu of the cam unit 36, the sewing machine may be provided with an indicia plate (not shown) having suitable indicia thereon for properly positioning the levers 4- and 7. Also, means will be provided to assure that the feed of the sewing machine will be turned off. The indicia will correspond to the aforementioned indicia and will include letter representations of the same type.

Operation In the use of the sewing machine with the attachment, which is the subject of this invention, in place, the fabric feed of the machine is adjusted to be Zero, and the needle is displaced with respect to the center position thereof so that it is received in the left hand "hole of the pair of holes in which stitching is to talce place. Also, the width of the zig-zag is adjusted to the value corresponding to the particular spacing of the two holes of the button.

In the case of a two-hole button, the stop plate 28 is adjusted to a position to bring the portion 0 thereof in alignment with the pins 15 to prevent movement of the support plate 16. When the zigzag is properly adjusted, the necessary stitching may be effected.

In the case of a four-hole button, the stop plate 28 is displaced to bring that portion of the cam surfaces 30 thereof into alignment with the pin 15 in accordance with the spacing of the holes of the button. The support plate 16 is then displaced to a maximum position, after which stitching is effected in a first pair of holes of the button. After the necessary stitching is effected, the support plate 16 is then shifted to the opposite end of its travel, after which the further stitching is effected.

After the button has been attached, it can be fastened more securely by making a few stitches in the left hand hole of the last pair of holes which has been sewn with zig-zag stitches. In order to do this, the zigzag width of the sewing machine must be adjusted to zero.

It is to be understood that once the sewing machine and the attachment therefor have been adjusted to receive a particular button, other buttons may be sewn in place without further adjustment of the sewing machine.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous construction has been disclosed for attaining the desired ends. However, it is to be understood that numerous variations may be made within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new:

1. For use in combination with a sewing machine of the zig-zag type and having means for controlling the width of the zig-zag as well as the usual presser bar and needle, an attachment for fastening buttons comprising a support for attachment to the presser bar, a jaw assembly, and means adjustably mounting said jaw assembly on said support for aligning buttonholes with the needle, said jaw assembly mounting means including a support plate, means mounting said support plate on said support for sliding movement in the normal direction of cloth feed, means carried by said support for restricting the movement of said support plate, said last mentioned means including a stop plate, and means mounting said stop plate for movement transversely of the direction of movement of said support plate, said stop plate being notched to permit the desired variation of positions of said support plate.

2. For use in combination with a sewing machine of the zig-zag type and having means for controlling the width of the zig-zag as well as the usual presser bar and needle, an attachment for fastening buttons comprising a support for attachment to the presser bar, a jaw assembly, and means adjustably mounting said jaw assembly on said support for aligning buttonholes with the needle, said jaw assembly mounting means including a support plate, means mounting said support plate on said support for sliding movement in the normal direction of cloth feed, means carried by said support for restricting the movement of said support plate, said last mentioned means including a stop plate, means mounting said stop plate for movement transversely of the direction of movement of said support plate, said stop plate being notched to permit the desired variation of positions of said support plate, and means for correlating the position of said stop plate with the spacing of holes in a button.

3. For use in combination with a sewing machine of the zigzag type and having means for controlling the width of the zig-zag as well as the usual presser bar and needle, an attachment for fastening buttons comprising a support for attachment to the presser bar, a jaw assembly, and means adjustably mounting said jaw assembly on said support for aligning buttonholes with the needle, said jaw assembly mounting means including a support plate, means mounting said support plate on said support for sliding movement in the normal direction of cloth feed, means carried by said support for restricting the movement of said support plate, said last mentioned means including a stop plate, means mounting said stop plate for movement transversely of the direction of movement of said support plate, said stop plate being notched to permit the desired variation of positions of said support plate, and sets of spacing determining pins projecting upwardly from said support plate for determining the spacing of holes in a button and facilitating the proper setting of said stop plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 616,173 Wing Dec. 20, 1898 820,089 Bouton May 8, 1906 952,087 Trull Mar. 15, 1910 1,009,701 Todaro Nov. 21, 1911 1,681,948 Morris Aug. 28, 1928 2,377,037 Reece May 29, 1945 2,495,069 McCann Ian. 17, 1950 

1. FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A SEWING MACHINE OF THE ZIG-ZAG TYPE AND HAVING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE WIDTH OF THE ZIG-ZAG AS WELL AS THE USUAL PRESSER BAR AND NEEDLE, AN ATTACHMENT FOR FASTENING BUTTONS COMPRISING A SUPPORT FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE PRESSER BAR, A JAW ASSEMBLY, AND MEANS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTING SAID JAW ASSEMBLY ON SAID SUPPORT FOR ALIGNING BUTTONHOLES WITH THE NEEDLE, SAID JAW ASSEMBLY MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A SUPPORT PLATE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORT PLATE ON SAID SUPPORT FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT IN THE NORMAL DIRECTION OF CLOTH FEED, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT FOR RESTRICTING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT PLATE, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING A STOP PLATE, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID STOP PLATE FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT PLATE, SAID STOP PLATE BEING NOTCHED TO PERMIT THE DESIRED VARIATION OF POSITIONS OF SAID SUPPORT PLATE. 